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Former Romney VP Pick Paul Ryan In Arkansas for Hutchinson

Gubernatorial nominee Asa Hutchinson (R) speaks to an audience member after the Political Animals Club.
Jacob Kauffman
/
KUAR

Former vice presidential contender Paul Ryan was in Arkansas Wednesday fundraising for GOP gubernatorial hopeful Asa Hutchinson. Congressman Ryan chairs the House Budget Committee and is a possible Presidential contender in 2016.

University of Arkansas political scientist Janine Parry said visits from national figures lend some legitimacy to campaigns but it’s mostly about bringing in money.

“I think it does offer something of a seal of approval but the folks to whom they are usually speaking long ago made up their minds. These folks are already among the party faithful. This is really about fundraising for the candidate in question now and potentially for these visiting candidates in the future,” said Parry.

Democrats were quick to try to turn Ryan’s trip to Arkansas into a vulnerability for Hutchinson. The Democratic Party of Arkansas released a statement arguing Ryan’s stance on privatization Social Security should be a concern for anyone supporting Hutchinson. Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Vincent Insalaco:

“Congressman Hutchinson and Congressman Ryan are of one mind when it comes to privatizing Social Security and undermining the security that hundreds of thousands of seniors in Arkansas rely on in their retirement. Congressman Hutchinson supported efforts to privatize Social Security when he was in Congress and Paul Ryan has written extensively on his desire to risk Social Security benefits on the stock market. Arkansas seniors are right to be concerned that Congressman Hutchinson would tout the support of the person responsible for Republican budgets that would turn Medicare into a voucher and end the promise of Medicare’s guaranteed benefits.”

Parry said such attacks usually don’t gain much traction.

“The independents and the swing voters are not typically in the room. Opponents can try to make successful political hay out of it but any fears that this person is on the edges of the party at this or that event, those would be overblown. That’s not the purpose or the point or the audience of these particular events,” said Parry.

Ryan is the latest in a string of national Republican visitors including Mitt Romney and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Hutchinson faces Democrat Mike Ross, Libertarian Frank Gilbert, and Green Joshua Drake.

Jacob Kauffman is a former news anchor and reporter for KUAR.
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